Turret terminal structure for vacuum tube sockets



July 23, 1963 L. E. MASON 3,

TURRET TERMINAL STRUCTURE FOR VACUUM TUBE SOCKETS Filed June 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R I I R R C i 0 O I5 0 0 I8 I I8 INVENTOR.

LEE E. MASON ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 L. E. MASON 3,098,

TURRET TERMINAL STRUCTURE FOR VACUUM TUBE SOCKETS Filed June 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEE E. MASON BY a gZ/A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,098,952 TURRET TERMKNAL STRUCTURE FUR VACUUM TUBE SOCKETS Lee E. Mason, San .Iose, Qalih, assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed .llune 28, E 61, gar. N0. 120,267 Claims. (fl. 317-101) This invention relates to a terminal structure for vacuum tube sockets by means of which circuit components such as resistors, condensers, etc, may be mounted in a cluster under and near the tube socket.

A typical terminal structure of the prior art is shown in Patent No. 2,604,584 in which the radial mount-ing lugs are riveted to the post body so that the number of lugs and their location are fixed when manufactured. While such standardization of form is suited for mass production of identical tube mounted chassis, it requires the small lot chassis builder to stock a variety of posts having different lengths and lug locations in an attempt to satisfy the many different wiring requirements.

In accordance with my invention, a terminal post or tube is made from a length of stock that has been predrilled with a series of radial mounting holes. The mounting lugs consist of flanged pins which are pressed into selected ones of the holes with a suitable tool. The press fit holds the pin on the post. The pins are substantially identical and are mounted on the post by the chassis assembler. Adapters on the end of the post permit it to be secured to the tube socket. Individual posts are cut to length by the assembler from the predrilled stock. The terminal structure therefore is custom made at .the'assembly site to exactly meet the needs of the job, and the types of parts in inventory are held to a minimum.

An object of my invention is the provision of a simplified terminal structure which can be readily adapted to different chassis wiring configurations.

Another object is the provision of a terminal structure which meets many different chassis assembly requirements without requiring an inventory of as many different parts.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent (from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being bad to the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation al view, partly in section, of an electron tube and socket to which a terminal support structure embodying my invention is attached;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of part of a terminal structure on which toroid coils are mounted;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the terminal structure assembly and the tube socket;

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section of the terminal structure connection to the tube socket; and

FIGURES 5 and 6 are elevations-l views of tubular post material illustrating the technique of making terminal structures of different lengths.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a conventional tube socket It) mounted on a chassis plate [l1 and in which an electron tube 12 is inserted. Socket has a base 13 of insulating material formed with a central opening '14 in which a tubular ground terminal 15 is secured for projecting from the terminal face of the socket base opposite from the tube 12. The base also has a plurality of recesses, one of which is shown at 1.6 in FIGURE 1, formed concentrically of opening 14, and in each such recess is disposed prong receiving end 17 of a terminal 18. Terminal 15 and terminals 18 project about the same distance from the said side of the base. An annular frame 20 and rivets 21 hold the socket assembly on the chassis plate.

The above described socket assembly is well known in the art and is not per se a part of my invention.

Circuit components are mounted in orderly fashion near the socket terminals 1% by means of a mounting assembly comprising a tubular post 24 of insulating material supported on and extending from the sleeve-like socket ground terminal 15 with the post axis aligned with that of the socket. The wall of post 24 is formed with a series of radial peg holes 25 in which mounting pegs 26 are press fitted. The lower end (as viewed) of post 24 has an adapter lug 27 (see FlGURES 3 land 4) removably inserted in the bore 28 of the post and snugly fitted into and preferably soldered to ground terminal 15 for supporting the post in position above the socket. A similar lug Z9 closes the opposite end of bore 28.

The pegs 26 may be multispool type shown in FIG- URES l, 2 and 3 or the single spool type of FIGURE 4, but either type has a radial flange 30 intermediate its ends which abuts the outside of the post and limits the depth of insertion of the peg into the hole 25' to less than the wall thickness :of the post. The pegs thus need not project into the bore 2.8 which therefore may be used as a conduit fora ground lead, if desired. If a ground lead is extended through the bore, connection with it and any mounted component may be made by simply using a longer mounting peg which does extend into the bore to make contact with such lead. The ground lead is indicated in broken lines at G in FIGURE 4, and peg extension 26' (also in broken line) is shown in con-tact with it.

The diameter of peg shank is less than the hole diameter but the inner end of the peg preferably has an enlarged head 31, the diameter of which is slightly larger than that of the peg hole so as to bind the peg in place. The diameters of the hole and peg head prefer-ably are such as to require use of a tool, such as pliers, to remove the peg. The head 31 may be tapered as shown to facilitate insertion of the peg. A flange 33 :on the opposite (outer) end of the single spool peg or flanges 34 on the multispool peg enable convenient anchoring of component lead wires. End lugs 27 and 2.9 are similarly formed to be removably press fitted into opposite ends of the post, the projecting portion 27a of adapter lu-g 27 being of suflicient length to firmly engage in ground terminal 15 with lug flange 35 seated on the end of the terminal.

Post 24- is made of any suitable electrical insulating material, such as a thermoplastic substance, and is cut to desired length from standard tubular stock, that is, different lengths L L L or L; of posts, as desired, may be cut from the supply stock 24' as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The peg holes 25 preferably are preformed in the tubular stock 24- and are distributed throughout the entire length thereof, and the post, when cut, is ready to receive pegs 26. The peg holes 25 are at circumferentially and axially spaced points over the full length of the post and are sufiicient in number to permit mounting of several components of varying sizes at many different positions on the post. Any number of holes may be provided consistent with structural strength of the post. Complete flexibility in mounting and relocating components after as sembly is thus provided, whether on the production line or at the research laboratory.

In addition to accommodating components having different physical sizes such as condensers C, resistors R, and the like as shown in FIGURE 1, the post embodying my invention readily permits mounting of toroid shaped components T, such as transformers, inductors, etc, as shown in FIGURE 2. The latter are slipped over the body of the post to the desired axial position and thereafter pegs are press fitted into appropriate peg holes on either side of the component to complete mounting procedure. This may be done with equal facility and flexibility in building only one or many items utilizing the terminal structure.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an electronic tube socket having a central ground terminal and a plurality of terminal elements around the ground terminal, means for mounting circuit components adjacent to said terminal elements comprising a tubular post having an axial bore defining the post wall, a plurality of radially extending circumferentially and axially spaced openings in the post wall, a plurality of conductive pegs removably inserted in certain of said openings and projecting outwardly from said post for supporting said components, each of said pegs being inserted in an opening to a depth less than the thickness of the post wall, and a conductive adapter lug in one end of said post and supporting the letter on said ground terminal, said pegs being spaced from said lug whereby to be electrically insulated therefrom.

2. In combination with an electronic tube socket having a central ground terminal and a plurality of terminal elements spaced around the ground terminal, means for mounting circuit components adjacent to said terminal elements comprising a tubular post of insulating material having an axial bore defining the post wall, a plurality of radially extending circu mferentially and axially spaced openings in said post wall, a plurality of pegs removably inserted in certain of said openings and projecting outwardly ifirom said post for supporting said components, each of said pegs having a flange engageable with the outside of the post wall for limiting the depth of insertion of the peg into the hole, the inner end of each peg having a head with a diameter slightly greater than the hole diameter, and a conductive adapter inserted into and projecting from one end of said post and supported on said ground terminal, said pegs being electrically insulated from said adapter.

3. In combination with a socket adapted to mount an electronic tube and having a plurality of terminal elements and a central ground terminal projecting from the side thereof opposite from the tube, means for mounting circuit components adjacent to said terminal elements comprising a tubular post of insulating material having an axial bore defining the post wall, a plurality of preformed radially extending cir-cumferentially and axially spaced openings in said post wall, a plurality of pegs removably inserted in certain of said openings and projecting outwardly from said post for supporting said components, each peg having a shank portion with an enlarged head at its inner end and a radial flange intermediate its ends, said flange being engageable with the outside of the post wall to limit the depth of insertion of the peg into the opening, the diameter of said opening being greater than said shank portion and less than the head of the shank, and a conductive adapter removably inserted into and projecting from one end of said post and secured to said ground terminal for supporting said post, said pegs being spaced from said adapter whereby to be electrically insulated therefrom.

4. A subassembly for an electronic circuit chassis assembly comprising a cylindrical tube of insulating material having an axial bore defining the tube wall, said tube wall having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially and axially spaced peg holes formed throughout the length of the post, a plurality of conductive pegs adapted to be inserted in certain of said peg holes, said pegs having a shank portion with an enlarged head at one end and a radial flange intermediate its ends, the diameter of each of said holes being greater than the diameter of the shank portion and less than the diameter of the head, the spacing between said flange and the head end of the peg being less than the thickness of said tube wall, and an electrically conductive adapter adapted to be inserted in one end of said tube for supporting the latter on said chassis assembly, said pegs being physically spaced from said adapter whereby to be electrically insulated therefrom.

5. In combination with a socket adapted to mount an electronic tube and having a plurality of terminal elements and a central ground terminal projecting from the side thereof opposite from the tube, means for mounting circuit components adjacent to said terminal elements comprising a tubular post of insulating material having an axial bore defining the post wall, a plurality of preformed (radially extending circumferentially and axially spaced openings insaid post wall, a plurality of pegs removably inserted in certain of said openings and projecting outwardly from said post for supporting said components, each peg having a shank portion with an enlarged head at its inner end and radial flange intermediate its ends, said flange being enga-geable with the outside of the post wall to limit the depth of insertion of the peg into the opening, the diameter of said opening being greater than the shank portion and less than the head of the shank, and a conductive adapter removably inserted into and projecting from one end of said post and secured to said ground terminal for supporting the post, said adapter having a ground lead connected thereto and extending into said bore of the post, at least one of said pegs extending into said bore and electrically contacting said lead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,9211 Scoville Jan. 11, 1955 2,640,903 Kohring June 2, 1953 2,764,713 Alden Sept. 25, 1956 2,779,867 Peterson Jan. 29, 1957 2,972,730 Abrams Feb. 21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 664,198 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1952 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN ELECTRONIC TUBE SOCKET HAVING A CENTRAL GROUND TERMINAL AND A PLURALITY OF TERMINAL ELEMENTS AROUND THE GROUND TERMINAL, MEANS FOR MOUNTING CIRCUIT COMPONENTS ADJACENT TO SAID TERMINAL ELEMENTS COMPRISING A TUBULAR POST HAVING AN AXIAL BORE DEFINING THE POST WALL, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AND AXIALLY SPACED OPENINGS IN THE POST WALL, A PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PEGS REMOVABLY INSERTED IN CERTAIN OF SAID OPENINGS AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID POST FOR SUPPORTING SAID COMPONENTS, EACH OF SAID PEGS BEING INSERTED IN AN OPENING TO A DEPTH LESS THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE POST WALL, AND A CONDUCTIVE ADAPTER LUG IN ONE END OF SAID POST AND SUPPORTING THE LATTER ON SAID GROUND TERMINAL, SAID PEGS BEING SPACED FROM SAID LUG WHEREBY TO BE ELECTRICALLY INSULATED THEREFROM. 